ITC BEGINS INVESTIGATION CONCERNING
POSSIBLE MODIFICATIONS TO THE U.S. GENERALIZED SYSTEM OF PREFERENCES,
2005 REVIEW

The U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) is seeking input for a newly initiated
investigation concerning possible modifications of the Generalized System of Preferences.

The investigation, Advice Concerning Possible Modifications to the U.S. Generalized System of
Preferences, 2005 Review (Investigation No. 332-470), was requested by the U.S. Trade
Representative (USTR) in a letter received on August 9, 2005.

As requested, the ITC, an independent, nonpartisan, factfinding federal agency, will provide
advice with respect to the economic impact on U.S. industries of the elimination of import duties
for all GSP beneficiary countries for carrageenan classified under HTS subheading
1302.39.0010.

The ITC will also provide advice with respect to the restoration of India for duty-free treatment
under the GSP of ibuprofen under HTS subheading 2916.39.15. Additionally, the ITC will
provide advice as to the impacts of granting a waiver of competitive need limits for the
Phillipines for dried mangos, HTS subheading 0804.50.80; for Brazil for certain yellow pine
plywood, HTS subheading 4412.19.40; and for Turkey for certain travertine, HTS subheadings
6802.21.10 and 6802.91.20. "Competitive need limits" represent the maximum import level of a
product that is eligible for duty-free treatment under the GSP; once the limit is reached, trade is
considered "competitive," benefits are no longer needed, and imports of the article become
ineligible for GSP treatment, unless a waiver is granted. With respect to the competitive need
limit in section 503(c)(2)(A)(i)(I) of the 1974 Act, the Commission, as requested, will use the
dollar value limit of $115,000,000.

The USTR will publish full article descriptions in the Federal Register.

The ITC is expected to submit its confidential report to USTR by November 10, 2005. As
requested by the USTR, as soon as possible thereafter the ITC will issue a public version of the
report containing only the unclassified sections, with any business confidential information
deleted.

The ITC is seeking input for its new investigation from all interested parties and requests that the
information focus on the articles for which the ITC is requested to provide information and advice.
The ITC will hold a public hearing in connection with the investigation at 9:30 a.m. September 29,
2005. Requests to appear at the public hearing should be filed no later than 5:15 p.m. on September 9,
2005, with the Secretary, U.S. International Trade Commission, 500 E Street SW, Washington, DC
20436.

The ITC also welcomes written submissions for the record. Written submissions should be addressed
to the Secretary to the Commission at the above address and should be submitted at the earliest
practical date but no later than 5:15 p.m. on October 7, 2005. Further information on the scope of the
investigation and the procedures for written submissions is available in the ITC's notice of
investigation, dated August 15, 2005, which can be downloaded from the ITC Internet site
(www.usitc.gov) or by contacting the Secretary at the above address. For further information, call
202-205-1806.

ITC general factfinding investigations, such as this one, cover matters related to tariffs or trade and
are generally conducted at the request of the U.S. Trade Representative, the Senate Committee on
Finance, or the House Committee on Ways and Means. The resulting reports convey the
Commission's objective findings and independent analyses on the subjects investigated. The
Commission makes no recommendations on policy or other matters in its general factfinding reports.
Upon completion of each investigation, the ITC submits its findings and analyses to the requester.
General factfinding investigation reports are subsequently released to the public, unless they are
classified by the requester for national security reasons.